" I was a reaction to an action. I will approach the Press Council against the defamatory article" — Anandrao Adsul

FPJ NEWS SERVICE Mumbai

Apparently irked by a report in Marathi daily ''Maharashtra Times'which speculated that a sitting Shiv Sena MPAnandrao Adsul was on his way to NCP, alleged Sena workers today vandalised the reception area of Times of India ( TOI) building at D N Road here today.

Seventeen people have been detained in connection with the attack, said Joint Commissioner of Police ( Law and Order) Rajnish Seth.

Interestingly, the Sena which earlier used to take responsibility of such attacks on the media went on the defensive and disowned the activists.

Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut claimed that Sena workers were not involved in the attack.

The Azad Maidan police have arrested 17 attackers following the incident and have booked them for rioting and unlawful assembly.

Adsul is a leader of co- operative bank employees union and the attackers are believed to be from this union.

But the police are yet to confirm their political affiliation.

The sleuths stated that around 20- 25 barged into the newspaper office located on DN Road at around 1pm and damaged windowpanes, furniture, flower pots and later ransacked the reception area. Soon after the attackers burnt newspaper copies and shouted slogans. The police stated that nobody was injured in the attack, however, the agitators allegedly assaulted the security of the building. The police reached the spot soon after and managed to bring the mob under control before they could further venture inside the building.

Deepak Dhole, Senior Inspector of Azad Maidan police said, " Following the incident, at least 17 persons have been taken into custody and have been booked for the attack. They would be produced in court on Sunday." A case of criminal intimidation, rioting, trespassing and preparation for hurt and unlawful assembly along with other relevant sections of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

They have also been booked under the Bombay Police Act and the Criminal Amendment Act and further probe is under way.

Earlier, Home Minister R R Patil said the police would find out which organisation or leader were behind the attack. " I strongly condemn the incident," Patil said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also condemned the incident, saying there was no place for such things in the democracy.

Adsul, meanwhile, defended the incident, saying " it was a reaction to an action". " I will approach the Press Council against the defamatory article," Adsul said, without owning responsibility for the attack.

" Those activists had gone there to protest, but were manhandled," he claimed.